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(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. A. HOUSE & s DLG'ASTLE,

MACHINE FOR SHAVING SKINS. Ne. 241.648.- Patented Sept. 27,1881.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets -Sheet 2'.

. IL HOUSE at s; 1). CASTLE MAGHINE FOR SHAVING'SKINS. No. 247,648. Patten-ted Sept. 2 7, 1881.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY anou'sn AND SAMUEL D, CASTLE, or BRIDGEPORT, ooNN.

MACHINE FOR SHAV-lNG SKINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,648, dated September 27, 1881,

Application filed March 14, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY A. HoUsE and SAMUEL D. CASTLE, both of Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Shaving Skins, of which the following is the specification.

This invention is a machine, constructed to be driven by any suitable power, whereby to shave off the inner or fleshy side of hides or skins before or after tanning.

Our invention is an improvement on that patented to H. A. House February 25, 1879, in which an annular cutter revolved in a bandframe, constituting a portable apparatus, and has for its objects to overcome certain deficiencies in said machine, and more especially to provide a means of readily and effectually shaving skins too small to be stretched on a frame or operated on by cylindrical cutters.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of the improved shaving-machine, showing one form in which it may be made; Fig. 2, a plan, the cap and bonnet removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation; Fig. 4, a front elevation of Fig. 3, the cap removed; and Fig. 5, a detached view of the cap, showing the inside.

The frame A is of any suitable form and size, according to the size of and arrangement for driving the cutter. 'As shown, it is provided with four standards, suitably braced, and carrying the driving-shaft B, upon which is a grooved pulley, a, and band-pulley b.

In bearings in an angular bracket, 0, at the upper part of the frame, turns an inclined shaft, D, carrying a band-pulley, d, driven by a belt from the pulley b, and an annular cutter, E. The cutter consists of a disk or wheel carrying a thin steel annular blade, e, sharpened at the outer edge, and secured adjustably to the disk, so as to be set out as the cutting-edge wears away. Upon the frame is mounted a curved cap, F, the inner edge of which coincides with and extendslnearly to the edge of the cutter c, and is recessed to reing into curved grooves h in a segment-plate, Gr, adapted to slide in the cap F and moved in a circle by means of a screw, H, turning in a stud, h, and adapted to a swiveling nut, m, on the cap, as shown in Fig. 5. By turning the screw H the throat-piece may be adjusted readily and with precision, and is securely held after adjustment.

The sharp edge of the cutter should project beyond the throat-piece a distance proportioned to the thickness of the shaving to be removed, which removal is effected by drawing the skin, with its fleshy side down, over the cap F, bringing it against the edge of the cutter, which, as it revolves, will rapidly sever a thin shaving without any possibility of penetrating the material to an injurious extent.

The shavings are carried within the cap, and to prevent them from obstructing the moving parts of the machine a thin metal inclined trough, J, is placed with its upper end just back of the cutting-edge, (the cutter-wheel being dished to admit it,) and the lower end extending down to a point Where the shavings should be discharged.

It is best to prevent contact with the cutterwheel to,cover the latter, and a hood, K,'use(l for this purpose, may also cover the other working parts, so as to present a smooth unbroken surface at the top ofthe machine, facilitating the operations, and preventing the access of shavings, dirt, 850., to the working parts.

As the knife is apt to become quickly dulled, and much time would be lost in removing, sharpening, and replacing it, sharpening devices may be combined with the machine, so as to operate continuously on the edge of the cutter. Thus two grinding-wheels, n n, are arranged to bear one inside and the other outside the cutter-blade, and are driven in contrary directions by a cross-belt, s, the wheel at being driven from the grooved pulley a by a belt, a, passing to a pulley on the wheel-shaft.

The wheel-shafts turn in swingingframes which are adjustable by means of screws t t, extending to the outside of the cap F.

It will be apparent that the structure of the frame may be varied, that the cutter may be enlarged or reduced in size,.and other changes made without departing from the main features of the invention.

We are aware that grinding-wheels driven in opposite directions to each other in connection with a band or hoop knife are of themselves not new, and therefore do not here claim such as our invention; but

\Vhat we do claim is- 1. The combination of the revolving cutter, throat-piece, cap, and trough J extendin g from inside the cutter to the outside of the cap, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for fleshing hides and skins, the combination of the inclined shaft carrying 

